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Publications

Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).

Filter Total Items: 4098

Methyl mercury dynamics in littoral sediments of a temperate seepage lake Methyl mercury dynamics in littoral sediments of a temperate seepage lake

The sites and rates of methyl mercury (MeHg) production and transport in littoral zone sediments were investigated at Pallette Lake in northern Wisconsin. In littoral areas where groundwater inflow occurs, sulfate supply from groundwater creates profiles of electron acceptors (sulfate) and donors (methane, sulfide) that are reversed from those found in sediments whose sulfate supply is...
Authors
D. P. Krabbenhoft, C.C. Gilmour, J.M. Benoit, Christopher L. Babiarz, A.W. Andren, J.P. Hurley

Reductive dissolution and reactive solute transport in a sewage-contaminated glacial outwash aquifer Reductive dissolution and reactive solute transport in a sewage-contaminated glacial outwash aquifer

Contamination of shallow ground water by sewage effluent typically contains reduced chemical species that consume dissolved oxygen, developing either a low oxygen geochemical environment or an anaerobic geochemical environment. Based on the load of reduced chemical species discharged to shallow ground water and the amounts of reactants in the aquifer matrix, it should be possible to...
Authors
R. W. Lee, P.C. Bennett

Humic acids as electron acceptors for anaerobic microbial oxidation of vinyl chloride and dichloroethene Humic acids as electron acceptors for anaerobic microbial oxidation of vinyl chloride and dichloroethene

Anaerobic oxidation of [1,2-14C]vinyl chloride and [1,2-14C]dichloroethene to 14CO2under humic acid-reducing conditions was demonstrated. The results indicate that waterborne contaminants can be oxidized by using humic acid compounds as electron acceptors and suggest that natural aquatic systems have a much larger capacity for contaminant oxidation than previously thought.
Authors
P. M. Bradley, F. H. Chapelle, Derek R. Lovley

Benthic sulfate reduction along the Chesapeake Bay central channel. I. Spatial trends and controls Benthic sulfate reduction along the Chesapeake Bay central channel. I. Spatial trends and controls

Factors controlling the spatial distribution of benthic sulfate reduction (SR) were investigated at 3 stations [upper (UB), mid (MB) and lower bay (LB)] along the Chesapeake Bay (eastern USA) central channel from early spring through late fall, 1989 to 1994. Annual rates of 0 to 12 cm depth-integrated SR were 0.96, 9.62 and 6.33 mol S m-2 yr-1 for UB, MB and LB, respectively, as...
Authors
M. C. Marvin-DiPasquale, D.G. Capone

Changes in production and respiration during a spring phytoplankton bloom in San Francisco Bay, California, USA: Implications for net ecosystem metabolism Changes in production and respiration during a spring phytoplankton bloom in San Francisco Bay, California, USA: Implications for net ecosystem metabolism

We present results of an intensive sampling program designed to measure weekly changes in ecosystem respiration (oxygen consumption in the water column and sediments) around the 1996 spring bloom in South San Francisco Bay, California, USA. Measurements were made at a shallow site (2 m, where mean photic depth was 60% of the water column height) and a deep site (15 m, mean photic depth...
Authors
J.M. Caffrey, J. E. Cloern, C. Grenz

Modeling tidal hydrodynamics of San Diego Bay, California Modeling tidal hydrodynamics of San Diego Bay, California

In 1983, current data were collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration using mechanical current meters. During 1992 through 1996, acoustic Doppler current profilers as well as mechanical current meters and tide gauges were used. These measurements not only document tides and tidal currents in San Diego Bay, but also provide independent data sets for model calibration...
Authors
P.-F. Wang, R. T. Cheng, K. Richter, E.S. Gross, D. Sutton, J. W. Gartner

Microbial oxidation of elemental selenium in soil slurries and bacterial cultures Microbial oxidation of elemental selenium in soil slurries and bacterial cultures

The microbial oxidation of elemental selenium [Se(O)] was studied by employing 75Se(O) as a tracer. Live, oxic soil slurries demonstrated a linear production of mostly Se(IV), with the formation of smaller quantities of Se(VI). Production of both Se(IV) and Se(VI) was inhibited by autoclaving, formalin, antibiotics, azide, and 2,4-dinitrophenol, thereby indicating the involvement of...
Authors
P.R. Dowdle, R.S. Oremland

Sedimentation and bathymetric change in San Pablo Bay: 1856-1983 Sedimentation and bathymetric change in San Pablo Bay: 1856-1983

A long-term perspective of erosion and deposition in San Francisco Bay is vital to understanding and managing wetland change, harbor and channel siltation, and other sediment-related phenomena such as particle and particle-associated substance (pollutants, trace metals, etc.) transport and deposition. A quantitative comparison of historical hydrographic surveys provides this perspective...
Authors
Bruce E. Jaffe, Richard E. Smith, Laura Zink Torresan

Lithology and fracture characterization from drilling investigations in the Mirror Lake area, Grafton County, New Hampshire Lithology and fracture characterization from drilling investigations in the Mirror Lake area, Grafton County, New Hampshire

The lithology and fracture network of the bedrock aquifer in the Mirror Lake area were characterized from hydrogeologic data collected from 1979-95 in Grafton County, N.H. The collection of these data is an integral part of an ongoing multidisciplinary study by the U.S. Geological Survey to characterize groundwater flow and solute transport in fractured rock. The data provide a physical...
Authors
C. D. Johnson, A.H. Dunstan
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